Robert Nickol, counsel to Sen. William Larkin (R-Orange County), is accused of assaulting his victim, which a source said was his girlfriend.

ALBANY — A top aide to a veteran state senator was hit with a felony charge Sunday after an alleged domestic violence incident.

Robert Nickol, the counsel to Sen. William Larkin (R-Orange County) is accused of hitting the victim, who a source said was his girlfriend, in the upper left thigh area with a television cord during a dispute early Sunday morning.

The incident left the woman with "pain, swelling and bruising", according to an Albany police report.

The incident took place in the wee Sunday morning hours. Albany police were called several hours later, the arrest report said.